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| OT: These are few of my favorite (free) things... [message #75196] |
Mon, 30 October 2006 21:38  |
Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member |
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While we all have certain sets of paid-for plugins that we
like, it’s also nice that in the open-source VST world there
are a good amount of freeware tools, as well. Below is a list
of freebie vst plugins that I have found to be most useful.
These are certainly not all of the free ones I’ve tried… some I
eliminated from the list because they were crap, and some
because they were poorly written (i.e: caused lockups,
crashing, glitches, etc.) or were too damn CPU-intensive on ANY
setting to be useful or practical. These are certainly also not
all the free ones out there… nowhere close, in fact! There are
a lot of wild, bizarre ones that I suppose some of you doing
certain styles of music would find useful (like maybe
electronica or things in that vein), but are not really useful
for me – hence you’ll find that this list consists of mainly
common tools that I’ve found to be:
a.) highly useable, with user-friendly interfaces & controls
b.) sound damn good, or at least sound damn good for a
specific purpose or two, and...
c.) are well-written, to the extent that they don’t suck
undue CPU power for no good reason
Keep in mind, you may like some stuff I don’t and vice-versa –
we all have different ears, but in any event I can guarantee
that none of these suck, so that’s a good place to start!
To keep it organized, I’ve sorted them for you by
classification/category. ALL direct download links are for the
Windows vst versions (and specifically XP or later versions,
where specified) – some apps may have other versions, which is
why I also supplied the product pages where applicable.
Off we go!
***Comps/Limiters/Other Dynamics***:
BuzMaxi:
Pretty damn good transparent brickwall limiter/volume
maximizer. Has “smooth” and “aggressive” settings. Stick it on
your 2-buss, baby! This is version 3 of BuzMaxi; if you can
find a copy of version 2 somewhere, I actually like that one a
little bit better, but this one doesn’t suck.
Product Page: http://www.x-buz.com/BuzMaxi3.html
Download: http://www5c.biglobe.ne.jp/%7Ebuzzroom/files/BuzMaxi3_130.zi p
GeneComp & GranComp:
Also from x-buz; GeneComp is a linear compressor, GranComp is a
harder-knee compressor. Both come in singleband & multiband
versions. I find that the presets are also pretty useful as a
starting point for various stuff. Try out GranComp on Kik,
Snare, Rock guitars & bass. Try the multiband GranComp on kick
& set each band real hard & then duck down the level on the
middle quite a bit, raise up the top for some “smack”
(experiment with the band split frequencies to find what works
best for your kick tone), and you may find you don’t even need
to EQ the kick at all! Grancomp is literally my most-used
compressor now on individual tracks. Do it! lol
Product Page: http://www.x-buz.com/BuzCompFree.html
Download: http://www5c.biglobe.ne.jp/%7Ebuzzroom/files/buzcompfree_v12 .zip
Classic Compressor:
From Kjaerhus – who has a whole series of “Classic” products
for free – I don’t find many of them all that killer, but this
one’s nice on Drums/Overheads, sometimes Bass, and sometimes BG
vox.
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-compressor.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_compressor_v11 7.zip
BrainDoc Compressor:
A very simple to use, yet very cool compressor – works
especially great on kik, snare & toms ( on toms & kick will get
VERY “in your face” if you’re not careful). Doesn't take up
much CPU power, either. Note: DON’T USE the “auto” setting on
output, it’s insanity – don’t even know why he put that option
in there.
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/Compressor_v1.0.1.zip
Ruby Tube:
A somewhat hard-nosed limiter that can also introduce some tube-
ish distortion… I’ve found it can sound good on bass (both
electric bass & synth bass stuff) & toms… kick - maybe, depends
on what you like. Seems better on low-end-ish stuff overall.
Product Page: http://www.silverspike.com/?Products:RubyTube
Download: http://www.silverspike.com/Download/RubyTube.zip
DigitalFishPhones Spitfish:
The VERY BEST stand-alone plugin de-esser available, IMO
(although I find the de-esser in Voxengo’s Voxformer to be
better, but that’s a paid product & is part of a processing
unit with other features). The product page & download links
give you the entire “Fish Fillet’s” package, which includes
some other plugins, as well. Toss the other ones,
keep “Spitfish” (OK, keep the other ones if you like ‘em, too).
Product Page: http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem =5
Download: http://www.digitalfishphones.com/binaries/the_fish_fillets_v 1_1.zip
***Delays/Reverbs***:
Classic Delay:
Another Kjaerhus plugin… and a pretty damn good stereo delay!
Can be set to tempo sync, or manual; has analog emulations, and
a really clean/pronounced digital delay sound. Good one!
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-delay.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_delay_v103.zip
BrainDoc Stereo Delay:
A very wash-y delay sound… clean, but responds more like an
analog delay – has some modulation & cross-channel feedback
capabilities as well. A very rich / lush delay sound.
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/StereoDelay.zip
PSP PianoVerb:
A pretty good-sounding, artifact-heavy (but in a good way)
reverb… sort of a spring-y sound in a way, and has a
tuning/detuning function, as well… haven’t found a damn thing
BESIDES piano that it sounds good on, but it does sound really
good on that sometimes!
Product Page: http://www.pspaudioware.com/indexjp.html
Download: http://www.pspaudioware.com/download/full/PSPpv.exe
Gvst GDelay:
Need a very simple, highly controllable mono delay? This is it.
This one definitely seems to have some artifacts going on, so
I’d recommend it for things like slapbacks or “old-skool” type
stuff.
Product Page: http://www.gvst.co.uk/gdelay.htm
Download: http://www.gvst.co.uk/dlgvst/GDelay.zip
RoomMachine 844:
A really good room simulator… works equally well as an insert
in a submix (like for a drum submix wherein you want to place
the drums in a room) or as a send-return-type of effect using
fully-wet settings on the output. Controls are very useful, and
has early-reflection variance capabilities using the “distance”
control (distance from the source to the simulated mics), and a
stereo spread selector on each side (L&R) independently.
Product Page: http://www.silverspike.com/?Products:RoomMachine_844
Download: http://www.silverspike.com/Download/RoomMachine844.zip
***EQ’s/Spectral***:
Voxengo EssEQ:
The EQ segment of vst plugins is really lacking in useful, high-
quality, musical EQ’s, IMO; and while this is certainly not
what I’d consider a candidate as a primary EQ, this one is
definitely useable if you: a.) run out of EQ bands for
something & you still need a little tweak somewhere, or b.)
just want to add a little air on an individual track – the high
end band on this is actually pretty nice for that!
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/esseq/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/VoxengoEssEQ_14_WinVST_setup.zi p
Classic EQ:
Yet another Kjaerhus app… this one is not super versatile in
terms of EQ-ing, but it’s got some coloration options you might
find useful. It’ll get dirty if you start boosting lots when
you’ve got the coloration controls selected, but it can be very
clean, too, without them. Can also be used without EQ as a
slight coloration/saturation effect on a mix buss (submix
group, really – don’t think I’d use it on a full 2-buss).
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-eq.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_eq_v104.zip
***Chorus/Modulation***:
Classic Chorus:
Frankly, I haven’t come across too many good freebie modulation
plugs… most of ‘em seem to be geared towards “bizarre” instead
of “damn clear & clean”, but this is another decent one from
Kjaerhus that sounds pretty good, and is also fairly versatile.
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-chorus.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_chorus_v128.zi p
BrainDoc ShifterBank:
Pretty interesting pitch shifter with up to 8 voices… VERY CPU-
intensive on settings with the higher #'s of voices, but can
give you some kinda cool flanging/doubling/chorusey EFX on even
the lower voice-count settings. Watch your blend between dry &
wet… pay attention to finding the right balance on this one.
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/ShifterBank_v1.0.0.zip
***Other***:
BrainDoc Channel Tool:
This is a very simple tool that basically allows you to set
levels/phase/etc on a single channel. Handy if you've got
something that you've automated volume on, and it's a little
hot or a little soft overall, but you don't want to rewrite all
the automation moves; OR if you're in a Native app & you've got
that overstuffed mix buss thing happening - just insert this on
all your audio tracks & bring all of 'em down by the same
degree (like we discussed in another thread):
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/ChannelTool.zip
Gvst GFader:
An even simpler version (level ONLY) of the Braindoc-type tool
mentioned above… de-stuff your Native mix buss fast & easy
without having to rewrite automation moves:
Product Page: http://www.gvst.co.uk/gfader.htm
Download: http://www.gvst.co.uk/dlgvst/GFader.zip
Voxengo Audio Delay:
OK, this is NOT a delay chain effect, it allows you to delay
the sound by a fixed number of milliseconds or sub-increments
thereof. I found this useful when tracking a kit of e-pads &
live cymbals combined…I wanted to create a more realistic space
for the e-pads, so I sent those to an aux buss, inserted this
on that submix, and delayed the audio by like 3-4 milliseconds
(like about the same delay you’d get from overheads vs. the
direct mics), and the blend of the two worked out great!
Probably you could find some other uses for it as well.
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/audiodelay/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/VoxengoAudioDelay_12_WinVST_set up.zip
Voxengo SPAN:
Spectrum Analyzer – versatile one… don’t leave too many of
these plugged in across various channels, though; it’s not
super CPU-intensive on it’s own, but several of ‘em at a time
will suck down a lot of your available cycles.
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/SPAN/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/VoxengoSPAN_18_WinVST_setup.zip
Voxengo r8Brain:
The free version of this app – works with multiple bitrates &
sample rates. A must-have, IMO. It’s a stand-alone utility, not
a plugin. Can also do batch conversions!
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/r8brain/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/Voxengor8brain_19_WinGUI_setup. exe
Simulanalog G-Suite:
A guitar processing pack that has some emulations of Marshall &
Fender amps & a handful of stomp pedals… I would not recommend
this as a primary guitar track thang, but I found it useful
recently when recording a split signal of a direct guitar
combined with an amped signal (yes, it went on the direct
channel LOL!).
Product Page: http://www.simulanalog.org/guitarsuite.htm
Download: http://www.simulanalog.org/GSuite.zip
***Also posting another item in this thread with the Word Document ATTACHED****
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